Abe Beeson

Evening Jazz Host

Abe grew up in Western Washington, a 3rd generation Seattle/Tacoma kid. It was as a student at Pacific Lutheran University that Abe landed his first job at KPLU, editing and producing audio for news stories. It was a Christmas Day shift no one else wanted that gave Abe his first on-air experience which led to overnights, then Saturday afternoons, and he's been hosting Evening Jazz since 1998.

His most memorable KPLU radio moments include introducing Dave Brubeck, Ray Charles, Oscar Peterson and other greats; attending the San Sebastian Jazz Festival in Spain with a group of KPLU jazz fans; and locking himself out of the station on a particularly cold winter night.

Studio Sessions

4:38 pm

Mon October 20, 2014

For many years, pianist Helen Sung devoted herself fully to classical piano studies. So much so, in fact, that when a friend invited her out to hear Harry Connick, Jr., Helen had no idea who he was. When she heard Harry do a series of solo piano jazz pieces she says she nearly jumped out of her skin. She’d never heard piano played like that. From that point on, Helen focused her considerable talents on jazz. Today, Helen Sung is one of the most inventive and respected jazz pianists of her generation.

Last week our listeners had the privilege of hearing vocalist Jane Monheit light up the airwaves during our live studio session, hosted by Abe Beeson. Now you can listen to the full interview and performance, as well as watch all three songs performed by Jane and her band below.

We were very excited to welcome back singer/songwriter, Sara Gazarek, a graduate from the Roosevelt High School jazz program who has since made a home in the L.A. jazz scene.

Sara stopped by the KPLU Seattle studios for this interview and performance while in town at Jazz Alley with Band members Josh Nelson (piano), Hamilton Price (bass), Zach Harmon (drums) and Larry Koonse (guitar).

Though this was not guitarist John Scofield's first stop into the KPLU Seattle studios this time he was joined John Medeski (piano), Billy Martin (drums), and Chris Wood (bass). As you will hear in this session, the group mixes jazz, funk and modern soul to create what host Abe Beeson called a groovy sound of their own.

Justin Kauflin is a 23-year-old jazz pianist who is also one of the subjects of a new documentary film called Keep On Keepin’ On.

The other subject of the film is Justin’s musical and spiritual mentor, jazz trumpet legend, Clark Terry. Kauflin has been a musician since childhood. He’s also been blind since age 11. The film deals with Justin’s apprenticeship and friendship with the 93-year-old Terry.

Trumpeters Ray Vega (East Coast) and Thomas Marriott (West Coast) have joined forces once again for the newest edition of their East-West Trumpet Summit with pianist George Colligan, bassist Phil Sparks and drummer Matt Jorgensen.

We wrapped up KPLU's School of Jazz week with a special treat for our audience: a live in-studio performance from the Bellevue High School Jazz Combo, accompanied by trombonist David Marriott and led by director Edd George.

12:51 pm

Fri May 2, 2014

Regina Carter has been pushing the limits of what jazz violin can be. Last time Ms. Carter was in the KPLU studios, she had just released her album, Reverse Thread: Kanou and N’teri, which explored African music in a fresh new way.

On this visit to Seattle, with guitarist Marvin Sewell and bassist Jesse Murphy, she had just released her new album Southern Comfort, which features traditional folk tunes of the American South. This studio session features three tracks from the album: Cornbread Crumbled in Gravy, I'm Going Home, and Miner's Child.

As a part of the Fall Fund Drive KPLU welcomed in The David Sanborn trio into the Seattle studios for an electrifying live studio session, hosted by Abe Beeson. Accompanying Sanborn were organ master Joey DeFrancesco and drummer Gene Lake.

Cecile McLorin Salvant is one of the best young jazz singers to appear on the scene in years. She’s the prefect combination of what many think a great singer should be. She creates her own songs, allowing us to see the world through her eyes and she also combs American music history looking for semi-obscure gems to polish and present to a new audience.